New Execs--Changes in the Wind

As the son of a printer who grew up with ink in his veins, and as the new president of a commercial print shop, what are Lyke's thoughts on 1999, the year 2000 and beyond?

"In general, the market for printers in 1999 has been fair, which is disturbing given the economy is supposedly doing so well," Lyke says. "As with other industries, the outlook for the printing industry continues to be more and more competitive. The weaker companies are being forced out, either by acquisition or bankruptcy. The firms that will thrive in the future need to keep on top of the market by using industry best practices. There is no sitting still in this economy. We are all driven to remove any process or function that does not add value to the customer."